Label-affixing machine.



L. LAUKKI & J. RHKONEN. [LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, I915- v 1,178,163. Patented Apr. 4,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- E fwfm THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH ,co., WASHINGTON, D. C.

. 7 1,178,163. APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, l9l5- Patented Apr. 4

L. LAUKKI 6L1 RHKONEN.

LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

II I f /e7 (90 1i 1 2a MI m 21 .ja" W4 fix; !!ii I ll] A jaw/d HHQ/ {1%4? 19 CKWM L. LAUKKI J. RIIKONEN.

LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26, I915.

1 1 78, 1 63 Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

li 9,4 I 00 L. LAUKKI & J. RHKONEN. LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 INS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH .CO., WASHINGTON, D. C,

L. LAUKKI & J. RIIKONEN. LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1915. 1,178,163. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 54 VIIIAII'QIIYAIEIZIIAIVI/II pnrr er err enrich.

LABEL-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1%16.

Application filed April 26, 1915. Serial No. 2 3,803.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEO LAUKKI and JOHN Ennonnn, citizens of the United States, residing at the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Label-Aiiixing Machines, of

vhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a machine to beused for aflixing labels to packages containing, or to contain articles of various kinds, and while it is more particularly intended for use in affixing labels to packages rectangular in shape, such as, the boXe-s for matches, yet it is applicable for applying labels to packages of different shapes and sizes for holding articles or material of almost any kind, including bottles for beer, medicines and other liquids, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel'arrangement and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed. 7

The principal object of the invention is to provide a label aflixing machine of the above named general character, which shall be so constructed as to be operable by means of hand or motor power, simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and efiicient in operation. 7

Another and important object is to provide a label affixing machine that can be operated by a single person, and so that the packages can be supplied from the hopper or supply chute, provided with paste or glue on the surface to receive the labels, the

labels placed and adhered thereto, and smoothed or cleaned by a brush in immediate succession, and in a very rapid, satisfactory and eflicient manner.

. Various other objects, advantages and details of the construction of the invention will be disclosed in the subjoined descrip tion and explanation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate an embodiment of the invention -Figure 1 is a face view in elevation of the machine, showing the parts in position ready for operation. Fig. 2- is a side view. Fig. 3-is a horizontal view}. partly in section, taken on line 3, 8, of Fig. 1, looking in the direction in dicatedby the arrows. Fig. 4- is a vertical view partly in section, taken on hne 4, 4, of ,1 ig. 1, look ng in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5- is a similar view taken on'line 5, 5, ofFig. l as shown by the arrows. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6, 6, of Fig. 4, showing a portion of the base, a part of the upright main frame and the means for feeding the packages from the chute or hopper. Fig. 7- is a vertical sectional view taken on line 7, 7, of Fig. 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the label holder. Fig. 9 is a fragmental vertical sectional view taken on 9, 9, of Fig. 8 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 10- is a-vertical sectional view taken on line 10, 10, of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the means for gripping and releasing the shank of the weighted plunger for the label holder. sectional view through the paste or glue pot, taken on line 11, 11, of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and Fig. 12 is a detached perspective view of the agitator or plunger for the paste or Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding. parts throughout the differentviews of the drawings.

The main frame of the machine includes a base 15, which is by preference hollow, and an uprightboX-like portion 16, which is mounted on the base at one side of the longitudinal middle of the same and forms a support and housing for certain parts of the mechanism as will be presently explained. The base 15, may be provided at each of its corners with a leg17, to rest on a table or other suitable horizontal support for the machine.

That portion of the base adjacent to the operator, which will be termed the rear portion, is provided on its upper surface rearwardly of said housing, with a pair of guide-bars, 18 and 19, which are spaced apart and extend longitudinally on the base and in parallelism with one another from one end of the base,l5,to near the other end thereof, and are used for the guidance of the packages as they are moved therebetween in the operation of being labeled. One of these bars, by preference the bar 18, hassecured thereto, on its inner surface, a series of inwardly bowed springs, :20, which iave their resilient portions free and overlapping the secured portions thereof as will Fig. 11 is a vertical be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 3, of the drawings, so as to press the packages 21, which are herein shown as match-boxes, and rectangular in shape, but which may be of any desired shape and capable of holding any kind of material, against the bar or guide, 19, individually or collectively, and in such a manner, as to hold the packages against vertical movement incident to tie similar movement of the paste or gluepot to which they may have a tendency to adhere. The upper portion of the base, 15, is provided near and between one of the ends of the bars, 18, and 19, with a longitudinal slot, 22, for the reception and operation of a depending lug, 23, on the feedplunger carrier, 24, which lies between the edges of said slot andon the top of the base and has its outer end provided with an upward extension 25, in which a screw-bolt 26 is swiveled at its outer portion, and en gages with its inner part the feed-plunger or block, 27, which has lateral flanges 28, loosely engaging the sides of the carrier 24 thereof. 'Thus, it willbe understood, that by turning the screw 26 in the proper direction, the plunger or block,27n1ay be advanced or retracted on the carrier :24 so as to adjust said plunger for feeding or pushing packages of different sizes from the chute or hopper to and between the guides 18 and 19 as said packages are being labeled.

Vertically mounted on the base across the slot 22 therein, and at the ends of the bars 18 and 19 adjacent to said slot, is a chute or hopper, which is designated as a whole by the numeral 29, and by preference, consists of a pair of spaced apart uprights, 30 and 31, channeled in cross section, with their channels facing each other so as to receive and vertically guide the packages. The lower ends of the members 30 and 31 are suitably secured to the base 15 and are provided with openings 32 of sufficient sizes to permit of the operation therein of the plunger 27 and of the exit of the packages as they are pushed from the chute by the said plunger. The upright housing 16 is mounted on the base 15 forwardl v of the bar 19 and maybe secured at one of its ends to the chute 29 as is clearly shown in Figs. 1', 4. and 5 of the drawings. 7 7

Horizontally journaled in the upper portion of the housing or main frame 16 is the driving shaft 33, which has loosely mounted on one end thereof, a wheel 34, provided with a handle 35, to be used for turning the same, when it is desired'to operate the machine manuallv. The outer end of the hub of the wheel 34, is provided with a clutchface 36 to engage a clutch 37 fixed to one end of a' shifting-rod 38. which is extended th ough a bore or opening in the driving shaft. Connected to the other end of the rod 38 is one end of a strap or bar 39,

desirable when the machine is driven by motive power, which can be done by applying power by means of a bolt or gearing (not shown). .to said wheel. To placerthe wheel 34, in operable connection, with the V driving-shaft, it is only necessary to shift the rod 38 in the opposite direction, which will cause the clutches 36 and 37 to engage each other. The hub of the wheel 34 is provided with an internal circumferential groove 42, to receive a pin 43 on the shaft 33, see Fig. 7, to prevent longitudinal movement of the wheel on said shaft.

The lower'portion of the main frame or housing 16,'is provided'with a rearwardly or inwardly extended enlargement 44, which enlargement is provided with a number of vertical openings 45, usually four in number, for the reception of rods 46-4748 and 49, each of which rods has journaled on its upper end a roller, 50, to contact with eccentrics or cams, mounted on thedriving shaft, 33, as will be presently explained. The shafts, 4648 and49 rest at their lower ends on spiral springs 51 which springs are located in the lower portionof the opentheir lower ends on the top of the base. The rod 47 is provided in its lower portion with a reduced rod 52 or extension which projects through an opening 53 in the top of ings 45 of the enlargement 44, and restat the base 15 and ispivotally and movably 7 connected at its lowerend by means of a pin 54 to a slotted arm 5 5,which arm is mounted on the shaft 56, which 'is transversely j ournaled on the'base 15 at about the middle thereof. Located on theshaft 56 rearwardly of the slotted arm 55 is another arm 57, which also extends at a right angle to the shaft 56 and has pivotally and movably connected thereto one'end of a'bar 58,

the other end of which bar is pivotally con-.

nected to the lug of thecarrier 24 (see Fig. 6 of the drawings).

Surrounding the reduced portion 52 of the rod 47 is a spiral springq59 which rests at its lower end on the top of the base and at its upper end against the lower part of the rod 47. Mounted on the driving: shaft 33, and fixed thereto by means ofxscrews 60 or otherwise are a series ofeccentrics 61 or cams, wh ch are so located as to contact and co-act with therollers 50 of the rods 46, to

49 inclusive. Secured toithe rear'sur face of the enlargement portion 44 of the housing is a vertlcal plate 62wh1ch has on 1ts rear surface a number, usually three, of verti-- cally disposed and spaced apart guide-bars 63,6 1 and 65 which extend upwardly from recess 66 which coincidein length with the recess 66 of the outer guide bars. Mounted on the rear part of an enlargement 67, on the upper portion of the rod 46 is a bracket 68 which has at its upper end a rearward extension 69 provided on its upper surface with a pin 70 and at its lower portion with a rearward extension 71 to engage a hook or forwardly extended arm 72 with which the front upper portion of the glue or paste pot 73 is provided. The guide bars 6364 and 65 are provided above and below the recess in said bars with flanges 74:, which flanges are spaced rearwardly from the plate, 62 on which said bars are mounted. The receptacle 7 3 has on its front portion at its upper and lower parts, lateral flanges 75, which are adapted to operate between the flanges 74 of thebars 63 and 64, and the plate 62. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the flanges 75 on the pot 73 are'located at the corners thereof, and are spaced apartso that in inserting the pot 73, the flanges 74 at the upper part of theguide bars may be passed between the upper and lower flanges 75 on the pot, until the latter flanges rest against the plate 62, when it is obvious that the pot will be guided for vertical movement. The receptacle or pet 73 has its upper end open and is provided in its lower end with numerous small perforations 76 for the passage of glue or paste onto the packages 21 to be labeled. Loosely located in the receptacle 73, is an agitator or plunger 77 which is of a shape to correspond with the shape of the receptacle 73, usually rectangular in shape and said plunger has a number of perforations 78 in its bottom as well as a slot'79 for the passage of the glue or paste. Mounted on the plunger 77 is a cross head 80 from which extends upwardly a rod 81 which has in its upper end an internally screw-threaded opening 82 to engage thelower portion of a screw-threaded rod 83, which rod is fixed at its upper portion to the knob 84 used for turning the rod 88 sons to adjust the position of the plunger 77 in the glue pot. Fitted loosely around the upper portion of the rod 81 is a sleeve 85 which is swivelly held in position on the rod 88 by means of a shoulder or enlargement 86 on the upper portion of the screw-threaded part of said rod. Fitted around the upper portion of the sleeve 86 is an arm 87 which has an opening 88 in its front portion to receive the pin 70 on the bracket 68, which arrangement will support the plunger 77 at a distance from the bottom of the pot, 73, which distance can be regulated by turning the knob 8 1 in the proper direction so as to raise or lower the rod 81 and the plunger 77, which it carries.

Extended downwardly from about the middle of the top of the housing 16 and between and rearwardly of the rods 47 and 48 is an arm 89 which terminates at its lower portion in a U shaped member 90 which is located directly in the rear of the rod 48, which rod has on its upper portion an enlargement 91 to the rear part of which is secured a bracket 92 which has on its upper end a rearward extension 93 provided with an upwardly extended pin 91 to fit in an opening 95 in the gripping arm 96, which arm is provided in its other or rear end with a vertical opening 97 to receive the shank 98 of the we'ghted plunger for the label holder, which plunger is attached to the lower end of the shank 98 in a suitable manner. The lower part of the bracket 92 is provided with a rearward extension 100 which engages the hook or forwardly projected extension 101, on the front upper portion of the label holder, which is designated as a whole by reference numeral 102 and consists of a substantially rectangular box or casing having each of its ends open and provided in one of its side walls with an opening 103 for the purpose of rendering easy access to the labels. The front wall of the holder 102 is provided at each of its sides with vertically disposed flanges 10% which are arranged in pairs at the top and bottom of the holder so that in inserting the holder between the guide bars 6-l and 65 thereof, one pair of the flanges 10% can be passed forwardly through the recess 66 of said guide bars until the flanges 1'0-i strike the plate 62, when it is apparent that said flanges will be free to move vertically between the flanges 7 d on the guide bars 6i and 65 of sa d plate. Inthe walls of the holder 102 a series of vertical openings or bores 105 are provided each of which bores has its upper portion internally screw-threaded to receive the screw plug 106 used for regulating the tension of the spiral springs 107, one of which springs is located in the upper portion of each of said bores as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings. Movably located in the lower portion of each of the bores 105 is a rod 107" which is provided on its upper end with a head 108 against which the lower ends of the springs 107 will rest. Below the head 108 each of the rods 107 is provided with a reduced portion 109 to permit of some play or vertical movement of said rods. Located in the walls of the holder102 at about the middle of each of the openings 105 is a screw 110 which, as shown in Fig. 9, is adapted to be extended into the opening 105 so as to restrict the movement of the rods 107 in either direction. The inner surface of the walls of the holder 102 is provided at the lower portion of each of the'openings 105 with a vertical slot 111 which slots communicate with said openings and extend through the lower end of the holder. The walls of the holder are also provided on their outer surfaces at each of the openings 105 with a vertical slot 112 each of which communicates with the openings 105 and extends through the lower end of the holder. Secured to each of the rods 107 just below the reduced portion 109, is one end of a spring 113 which springs extend down wardly within the slots 111 and which spring each has its lower or free end inwardly defiected as at 114 (see Figs. 4, 8, 9, and 10 of the drawings,) to engage the lowermost one of the labels contained in the holder. Extending through each of the rods 10?, near its lower end is a screw 115 which is adapted to operate in the slots 111 and 112 and is used for a the purpose of adjusting the springs 113 inwardly or outwardly with respect to the holder as before stated. The heavy or weighted plunger 99 is located in the holder 102 for the purpose of striking the group of labels 116 which are placed in the holder 102 one on the other in which position they are retained by the deflected portions 114 of the springs 113 until released from said holder one at a time by the action of the plunger 99 and movement of the parts of said holder. The shank 98 of the plunger 99 can be made of any suitable shape, but by preference is rectangular in cross section as shown and has on its upper portion a transversely extended pin or stop 117' to restrict the upward movement of a weighted sleeve 118 which is loosely mounted on the shank 9S and rests on the arm 96 near its rear end to give bettergrfpping efiect to said arm. By reference to Fig. 10 it will be noticed that the openings 95 and 97 in the arm 96 are somewhat larger than the pin 94 and shank 98 respectively so that said arm will be inclined by reason of its weight as wellas of the we'ght of the sleeve 118 which rests thereon. When thus inclined it is obvious that the walls of the opening 97 in the arm 96 will grip the shank 98, thus holding said shank and the plunger 99 stationary until the arm 96 strikes the horizontal portion 90' of the arm 89, when it is apparent that the arm 96 will be slightly raised at its rear end, thus releasing the shank 98 and allowing it and the plunger 99 to descend with considerable force onto the labels 116 within the holder.

Mounted on the upper portion of the rod 49 and extending rearwardly therefrom and slightly toward the wheel 34 is an arm 119 which has vertically and loosely mounted the labels after they have been attached to forcing wale thereon, near its free end, a rod 120 which carries on its lower end a brush body 121 which is provided with depending bristles. 122 to form a brushto'be used for tamping the packages through the instrumentality of the label holder and its weighted plunger. The rod 120 is provided below the arm 119 which supports it, with an annular shoulder 123 between which shoulder and arm 11 9 is interposed a coiled spring 124 which will afford resiliency to the brush. The upper, end of the rod 120 is screw-threaded and has engaging with the said screw threaded portion a nut 125 which can be used for regulating the tension of the spring 124 by turning said nut in the proper, direction.

The operation of the machine is simple and as follows: Assuming that the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings, and that the glue pot 73 is supplied with glue or paste, and the label holder 102 is loaded with labels, it is manifest that the packages can be placed in the hopper 29 one upon another, when by applying power to the driving shaft 33 through the medium of the wheel 34, either manually or otherwise, and causing saidshaft to turn in the proper direction, thefeeding plunger 27 and 7 its carrier 24 will be caused to advance, thus the lower through the opening 32 in the lower portion of the hopper and between the springs 20 and bar 19, in which operation thecams .61 on the shaft 33 will be turned so as to diminish the pressure on the rollers 50 carried package forwardly v by the rods 46 to 49 inclusive, at the proper tion of the hopper 29, the feed plunger 27 and its carrier 24 will be retracted by the tension of the spring 59 acting on the rod 47 and through its connections with said carrier. In the above mentioned-movement of the rods 46-48 and 49 it is apparent that as the glue-pot, label-holder and tampingbrush are respectively connected to said rods they will be carried thereby, but that the glue-pot as well as the label-holder will have independent movement from their respective rods, aswell as, independent movement from their respective plungers, when the first or lowermost packages shallhave been pushed from the hopper,theglue-pot will descend and strike with its perforated bottom the upper surface of saidpackages and thus allow glue orpaste to be supplied thereto through said perforations, the quantity being regulated to some extent, by the action of the plunger 77 which will also act as an agitator by reason of its independent movement. Now, as said package is advanced in the guidewayibythe succeeding package or 9 with the glue pot, and will have the lowermost label 116 therein applied and atlixed to the adhesively coated surface of the packages by reason of the action on the labels of the weighted plunger 99, which in the'descent of the holder 102, as well as of itself and shank 98, will be released from the gripping arm 96 by the latter striking the horizontal part 90 0f the arm 89 which depends from the housing 16 and is extended across the path of the said gripping-arm. As the thus labeled package is advanced from ti: label-holder it will pass under the brush body 121 and be pressed by the bristles 122 thereof, which body will be reciprccated substantially in unison-with the glue-pot and label holder. In the further operation of the machine, the above named steps will be repeated for each package, and it is apparcut that each package as it passes under the glue-pot will have distributed over its upper portion paste or-glue, and as it passes under the label holder a label will be affixed thereto through the instrumenta'lity of the plunger 99, and as said packages pass under the brush they will be tamped thereby, or gently tapped so as to remove wrinkles from the labels and cause them to be smoothly and securely atfixed to the packages. As the brush body 121 is loosely mounted on the arm 119 and actuated by the spring 124: itis obviousit will have independent movement from the rod 49 which carries said brush.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a label affixing machine. the combination with a main frame including a base and an upright part mounted thereon, of a hopper mounted vertically above said base, a vertically reciprocal 'glue pot, a plunger located in said pot, a vertically reciprocal label holder, a label striking plunger located in said holder, means to simultaneously reciprccate the said pot and holder, means to vertically move said plungers independently, and means to automatically release the label striking plunger.

2. In a label affixing machine, the combination With a main frame including a base and an upright part mounted thereon, of a hopper mounted above the base, a vertically reciprocal glue pot, a plunger located in the same, a vertically reciprocal label holder, a label affixing plunger located in said holder, a vertically movable tamping-brush, means to simultaneously reciprocate the said pot, holder and brush, means to independently and vertically move said plungers, and means to automatically release the striking plunger.

3. In a label aflixing machine, the combination with a main frame, of a hopper mounted thereon, a vertically reciprocal glue pot, a vertically reciprocal label holder, an apertured plunger located within said pot and adjustably mounted, a vertically movable and gravity actuated label striking plunger located Within said holder, means to simultaneously reciprocate the said pot and bolder, means to vertically move said plungers independently of their respective receptacles, and means to automatically release the label striking plunger.

4. In a label aliixing machine, the combination with a main frame including a base, of a hopper mounted above the base and having an opening in its lower portion, a horizontally reciprocal feeding device longitudinally mounted on the base and adapted to be projected into said opening of the hopper, a vertically movable glue pot having means in its lower end to discharge an adhesive, an apertured plunger located in said pot and having independent vertical movement from the same, a vertically movable label holder, a label striking plunger having independent vertical movement from and carried within said holder, means to reciprocate the feeding device. means to raise and lower said pot and holder as well as the plungers carried therein.

' 5. In a label affixing machine. the combination with a main frame having a base. of a hopper mounted above the base and having an opening'in its lower portion, aho izontally reciprocal feeding device longitudinally'mounted on the frame and extended above said base and adapted to be projected into said opening of the hopper. a vertically mo able glue pot having means in its lower end to discharge an adhesive. an apertured plunger located in said pot and having independent vertical movement from the same, means to adjust said plunger with respect to said pot. a verticallv mo ab e label holder. a label striking plunger having independent vertical movement from said holder and located within the latter, means to reciprocate the feeding device. me ns to raise and lower the glue pot and label holder as well as the plunger-s located thee n. and means to raise said plungers independently of their respective receptacles. and means to automatically release the label striking plunger.

6.. In a label aflixing machine. the combination with a main frame having a base, of a hopper mounted above the base and having in its lower portion an opening for the passage of packages, a horizontally recipro cal feeding device long tudinally mounted on the frame and extended above said base and adapted to be projected into said opening of the hopper, a vertically movable glue pot having means in its lower portion for the discharge of an adhesive. a perforated and sl tted pl ng r loca d n said pot an lOe adjustably mounted, a vertically movable label holder, a vertically movable and gravity actuated label striking plunger located within said holder, a vertically movable and resiliently supported tamping brush, means to reciprocate the feeding de vice, means to raise and lower the glue pot, the label holder, and tamping brush as well as said plungers, means to raise said plungers independently of their respective reciprocations, and means to automatically releaseathe striking plunger.

7. In a label atlixing machine, the combination with a main frame, of a driving shaft horizontally journaled on said frame, means to drive said shaft, a hopper mounted near said main frame and having an opening in its rear lower portion, a horizontally reciprocal feeding device mounted near said hopper, a shaft transversely iournaled on the lower portion of the main frame, an arm extended from said shaft, :1 connection pivotally uniting said arm and said feeding device, another arm extended from said trans verse shaft, a spring actuated rod pivotally connected at its lower end to the last named arm and extended vertically, a roller on the upper end of said red, and a cam on the driving shaft in contact with said roller.

8. In a label affixing machine. the combination with a main frame, of a driving shaft horizontally journaled on said frame. means to drive said shaft, a hopper mounted near said frame and having an opening in its lower portion, a horizentallv reciprocal feeding device mounted near said hopper, a shaft transversely journaled on the frame, an arm extended from said shaft, connections pivotally uniting said arm and feeding device, another arm extended from said shaft, a vertically movable spring-actuated rod pivotally connectedat its lower portion to thelast namedarm, aroller on the upper portion-of saidrod. a cam on the driving shaft in contact with said roller, an ther s ring-actuated rod vertically mounted on the frame. a roller on its upper portion. a cam on the driving shaft in contact with said'roller; a

' glue pot carried by the last named rod but nation with a main frame, of adriving shaft horizontally journaled on said frame, means to drive said sha ft,'a vertically movable spring actuated rod mounted on the main frame, a roller on the upper portion of said to drive said shaft, a vertically movable spring-actuated rod mounted on the main frame, means on the driving shaft and on the upper portion of said rod to depressthe latter when said shaft is'turned, a vertically disposed bracket carried by the upper portion of said rod and having a horizontal extension'at each of its ends, an upright pin on the upper extension, a label holder having at its upperportion an-extension to engage the lower extension of said bracket, an arm loosely mounted at one ofits ends on said pin and having in its free portion a vertical opening, and a weighted plunger located within the label holder and having a shank extended upwardly therefrom through the last named opening in said arm. 7

11. Ina label aflixing machine, the combination with a main frame, having a base, of a hopper mounted above the base, avertically movable label holder, thelabel striking plunger located within said holder and having a shank extended upwardly therefrom, means to raise the holder, a gripping device for said shank consisting of an ,arm'mounted at one'of its ends for vertical movementand its other end having in" its free portion a vertical opening, means operably connected to said arm for causing it to grip the shank and move it and the-plunger away from the labels, andmeans to automatically release said arm from the shank togpermit'movement of the plunger in the downward direction.

LEO LAUKKI. JOHN RIIKONEN. Witnesses:

CHAS. C. TILLMAN, A. E. OLSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of'Patent-s,

Washington. D. G. r 

